Family toilet seat and cover assembly having fluid damped slow-close hinges for all hinged components

ABSTRACT

An improved family toilet seat and cover assembly has easy-open, slow-close, fluid-damped hinges for all hingeable components, including the adult toilet seat, the cover for the adult toilet seat which also incorporates a child toilet seat, and a lid for the child toilet seat, which is hinged to the cover for the adult toilet seat. The adult toilet seat and adult toilet seat cover are hingeably attached to a pair of hinge posts, which are attached with bolts to the toilet bowl. Each hinge post contains one fluid-filled rotational dampener that is rotationally coupled to either the adult seat or adult seat cover/child seat. The child seat lid is rotationally coupled to a fluid-filed rotational dampener that is installed within a dampener housing molded into either the child toilet seat or the child toilet seat lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to improvements in toilet seat/cover units which can be used by both adults and children, and more particularly, to the incorporation of slow close fluid damped hinges in those units.

2. Description of Prior Art

Various commode seat constructions are utilized in prior art for use with children, such as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,341 to Boardman, et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,461,046 and RE 32,807 to Adams (1984 & 1988), and U.S. Pat. No. 2,461,160 to Joyce (1947). Such a multiple toilet seat assembly permits the selective use of an appropriate sized opening for the selective use by a particular adult or child. Each of these devices features an adult seat, an adult seat cover, a child seat incorporated within the adult seat cover, and a child seat cover.

For those whose peace of mind is easily shattered by sudden loud noises, such as the slamming of a toilet seat, cover, or both down onto the toilet bowl, the recent development of the slow close toilet hinge is a godsend. U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,286 to Sorimachi (1997), which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a fluid-filed rotational dampener mechanism for supporting a toilet bowl mounted seat or seat lid. Each rotational dampener mechanism has a case comprising a vessel and a top cover which together form a generally cylindrical inner chamber. A generally cylindrical drive shaft passes through the case and is rotatable within the inner chamber. A gap between the drive shaft and the walls of the chamber is sealably filled with a viscous fluid, such as silicone grease or jelly. A pair of radial partitions extend from the main body and divide the inner chamber into two compartments. Likewise, a pair of radial vanes extend from the generally cylindrical drive shaft. Each of the radial vanes incorporates a one-way valve. Thus, the drive shaft is able to rotate within the chamber, with each radial vane movable within one of the compartments through the viscous fluid. When the core is rotated in one direction, both one-way valves open and permit the passage of the viscous fluid from one side of a compartment, through the valve to the other side. Conversely, when rotated in the opposite direction, both one-way valves close, thereby damping rotational movement in that direction. A hinge pin is inserted through the drive shaft of each rotational dampener mechanism. One rotational dampener is associated with the adult toilet seat; the other with the adult toilet seat cover/child toilet seat. The hinge pivot pin is rotationally locked within the cylindrical drive shaft of its associated rotational dampener mechanism, and within a pivot pin aperture in the component associated with that rotational dampener. Thus, each component which hinges from the rear of the toilet bowl, whether it be the toilet seat or the toilet seat cover, is directly coupled to the core of one of the rotational dampeners. Undamped rotation is thus provided in one direction through an arc of about 120 degrees, and damped rotation in the opposite direction through the same arc. When incorporated into a toilet seat hinge, the one-way valving on the radial vanes, permits the seat and/or cover to be easily lifted to a generally vertical position with the valves open. When gravity returns the seat and/or cover to a horizontal position, rotation is slowed in that rotational direction so the seat and/or cover does (do) not slam down on the toilet bowl.

Bemis Manufacturing Company, the largest manufacturer of toilet seats in the world, has designed a toilet seat having hinges that are fluid damped to that the seat and lid both close slowly and without slamming. The Bemis rotational hinge dampener is a derivative of the Sorimachi device, the primary difference being the design of the one-way valves on the vanes. Whereas Sorimachi used flapper valves positioned in a groove in the end of the vane, Bemis uses a flapper valve positioned on one side of the vane and held in place by a clip passing through a slot in the tip of the vane. In any case, the seat of the Bemis product is controlled by a hinge/dampener associated with one of the hold-down bolts, while the lid is controlled by a hinge/dampener associated with the other hold-down bolt. As an interesting note, Bemis has also designed the seat assembly hinges so that the toilet seat assembly may be quickly and easily removed by rotating a cam on each of the fasteners which attaches the toilet seat assembly to one of the hold-down bolts, thereby releasing the fasteners and seat assembly. This feature is covered by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,933,875 and 6,070,295, both of which are assigned to Bemis Manufacturing Company.

Providing slow close hinges with fluid dampeners for the lid of the child seat on one of the family seats disclosed in one of the patents referred to above is not a trivial task, as there is no third hold-down bolt associated with the child seat cover. As a child is probably more likely than an adult to slam toilet seats and lids, what is needed is an improved family toilet seat with slow-close, fluid-damped hinges not only for the adult seat and lid, but for the child seat lid as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved family toilet seat and cover assembly having slow-close, fluid-damped hinges for all hingeable components, including the adult toilet seat, the cover for the adult toilet seat which also incorporates a child toilet seat, and the lid for the child toilet seat, which is hinged to the adult toilet seat cover. The adult toilet seat and adult toilet seat cover are hingeably attached to a pair of hinge posts, which are attached with bolts to the toilet bowl. Each hinge post contains one fluid filled rotational dampener that is installed with a dampener housing that is keyed so that the dampener case will not rotate.

The focus of the present invention is primarily the inclusion of a slow-close hinge on the cover of the child's toilet seat. Rather than the main body of the rotational dampener being anchored to the toilet bowl, it is installed on the adult toilet seat cover/child toilet seat or on the child toilet seat lid. For both embodiments, the child toilet seat is provided with a lid mounting recess and cutout at the rear thereof.

For the preferred embodiment of the invention, a rotational dampener housing is molded into the bottom of the child toilet seat on one side of the lid mounting recess and cutout and adjacent thereto. The housing is shaped to prevent rotation of the rotational dampener case. On the other side of the mounting recess and cutout and adjacent thereto, a pivot aperture is molded into the child toilet seat. The child toilet seat cover is sized to cover the child toilet seat opening and also has a rear extension unitary with the cover, that fits within the mounting recess and cutout of the child toilet seat. The rear extension has at least one pivot pin opening molded unitary with the rear extension. With the rotational dampener unit installed within the rotational dampener housing, and the child toilet seat cover positioned with the at least one pivot pin aperture between and coaxial with the pivot aperture and the axis of the rotational dampener core, a pivot pin is pressed through the dampener core, through the at least one pivot pin opening and into the pivot aperture. The pivot pin, core aperture, pivot pin opening, and pivot aperture are sized so that the pivot pin is rotationally locked within the core aperture and within at least one pivot pin opening, and free to rotate within the pivot aperture. In this way, the child toilet seat cover is rotationally coupled to the dampener core. Hence, it downward rotational movement is damped by the rotational dampener installed within the rotational dampener housing molded into and beneath the child toilet seat.

For the alternative embodiment where the rotational dampener is installed on the child toilet seat lid, a rotational dampener housing is molded into the bottom of a rear extension of the child toilet seat lid. As with the other rotational dampener housings, the housing is shaped to prevent rotation of the rotational dampener case. A hinge pivot pin is non-rotatably anchored to the child toilet seat so that the core of the rotational dampener does not rotate. Only the case of the rotational dampener rotates as the lid is raised and lowered. For this application, the rotational dampener must be reversed to provide damping as the lid is lowered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the adult toilet seat of the new family toilet seat and cover assembly;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the adult toilet seat of FIG. 1, taken through section line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the adult toilet seat of FIG. 1, taken through section line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the adult toilet seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the adult toilet seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is front elevational view of the adult toilet seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the child toilet seat of the family toilet seat and cover assembly;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the child toilet seat, taken through section line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the child toilet seat, taken through section line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the child toilet seat of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the child toilet seat of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is front elevational view of the child toilet seat of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the child toilet seat lid of the family toilet seat and cover assembly;

FIG. 14 is a left side elevational view of the child toilet seat lid of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the child toilet seat lid, taken through section line 15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a bottom plan view of the child toilet seat lid of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a rear elevational view of the child toilet seat lid of FIG. 13;

FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of the child toilet seat lid of FIG. 13;

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view of a hinge support;

FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of a hinge support;

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of a hinge support with a rotational dampener installed therein;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged top plan view of a rotational dampener;

FIG. 23 is a top plan view of a rotational dampener with the top cover removed;

FIG. 24 is an exploded view of a rotational dampener;

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of a rotational dampener;

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of a rotational dampener with the top cover removed;

FIG. 27 is an exploded view of a rotational dampener;

FIG. 28 is an exploded view of the assembly of slow-close hinge components for the adult toilet seat;

FIG. 29 is an exploded view of the assembly of slow-close hinge components for the child toilet seat;

FIG. 30 a partially-assembled, partially-exploded view showing the assembly of a preferred embodiment of the child toilet seat and child toilet seat lid combination, with the incorporation of a rotational dampener mounted on the child toilet seat and an associated hinge pivot pin; and

FIG. 31 is a partially-assembled, partially-exploded view showing the assembly of an alternate embodiment of the child toilet seat and child toilet seat lid combination, with the incorporation of a rotational dampener mounted on the child toilet seat lid and an associated hinge pivot pin.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improved family toilet seat and cover assembly having slow-close, fluid-damped hinges for all hingeable components, including the adult toilet seat, the cover for the adult toilet seat which also incorporates a child toilet seat, and the lid for the child toilet seat, which is hinged to the adult toilet seat cover. The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawing. It should be understood that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and merely serve an illustrative function. Nevertheless, the detail of the drawings is sufficient to convey a full appreciation for the construction and function of the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, the adult toilet seat 100 of the new family toilet seat and cover assembly is shown in various views. The adult seat 100 is relatively conventional, having a ring shaped seat 101, four bumpers 102A-102D molded into to the underside surface of the seat 101, a hinge cover panel 103, and left and right hinge pivot extensions 104L and 104R. It will be noted that the left hinge pivot extension 104L has a square aperture 105 in the center thereof, while the right hinge pivot extension 104R has a round aperture 106. The square aperture 105 is sized to engage a pivot pin of square cross section so that the pivot pin will couple the left hinge pivot extension 104L and the entire adult seat 100 to an adjacent rotational dampener (not shown in this view). All major components of the family toilet seat and cover assembly are preferably molded from a resilient, tough polymer plastic such as, but not limited to, polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyamides (e.g., nylon), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyesters, polycarbonate, and poly(methyl methacrylate).

Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 12, the child toilet seat 700, which also functions as an adult toilet seat cover, is shown in various views. The terms adult toilet seat cover and child toilet seat are used interchangeably. The child toilet seat 700 has a child seat portion 701 with a generally oval opening 703, a cover portion 703, a central cutout 704 located between the child seat portion 701 and the cover portion 703, a rotational dampener housing 705 laterally adjacent and to the left of the central cutout 704 that is molded unitary with the lower surface 706 on the left half of the child toilet seat 700, a hinge pivot projection 707 that is laterally adjacent and to the right of the central cutout 704 that is also molded unitary with the lower surface 706 on the right half of the child toilet seat 700, a pair of bumpers 708A and 708B molded into the lower surface of the child seat portion 701, as well as left and right hinge pivots 709L and 709R, respectively that are molded into the rear of the child toilet seat 700. It will be noted that the left hinge pivot 709L has a circular central aperture 710, while the right hinge pivot 709R has a square central aperture 711. The square central aperture 711 is used to couple a hinge pin of square cross section to an adjacent rotational dampener (not shown in these views). It will also be noted that the cutout has an adjacent lid recess 712.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 to 18, the child toilet lid 1300 is shown in various views. The child toilet seat lid 1300 has a generally oval cover portion 1301 and a rear extension 1302 of generally rectangular shape, that is unitary with the oval cover portion 1301. The rear extension 1302 fits within the lid recess and is positioned above the central cutout 703 of the child toilet seat 700 when the lid is in a lowered position. When the lid is in a raised position, a portion of the rear extension 1302 swings into the central cutout 703. A pair of bumpers 1303A and 1303B are molded into the lower surface of the oval cover portion 1301. In addition, left and right hinge brackets 1304L and 1304R are molded beneath and unitary with the rear extension 1302. It will be noted that both the left hinge bracket 1304L and the right hinge bracket 1304R have square central apertures 1305A and 1305B, respectively, which permit rotational coupling, via a portion of the child toilet seat lid pivot pin that is of square cross section, of the child toilet seat lid 1300 to the rotational dampener that is installed within the rotational dampener housing that is molded into the lower surface 706 and laterally adjacent the central cutout 704 of the child toilet seat 700.

Referring now to FIGS. 19 to 21, a generally L-shaped left seat assembly toilet bowl mounting support 1900 is shown. The left support 1900 includes a rear aperture 1901 through which the left support 1900 is bolted to the bowl. The left support 1900 also has a keyed rotational dampener recess 1902. The rotational dampener recess 1902 is shaped so that the case of the rotational dampener 2500 will be prevented from rotating once it is installed within the recess 1902. The rotational dampener recess 1902 has an core access aperture 1903 sized to receive a bottom extension of the rotational dampener.

Referring now to FIGS. 22 to 24, a generally L-shaped right seat assembly toilet bowl mounting support 2200 is shown. The right support 2200 includes a rear aperture 2201 through which the right support 2200 is bolted to the bowl. The right support 2200 also has a keyed rotational dampener recess 2202. The rotational dampener recess 2202 is shaped so that the case of the rotational dampener (not shown in this view) will be prevented from rotating once it is installed within the recess 2202. The rotational dampener recess 2202 has a pivot pin insertion aperture 2203.

Referring now to FIG. 25, a rotational dampener 2500 is shown in a top view. The rotational dampener 2500 has a rotatable core 2501 having a pivot pin installation aperture 2502. The pivot pin retaining aperture 2502 is shaped (in this case square) to prevent the pivot pin (not shown in this view) from rotating within the aperture 2502. The portion of the pivot pin that will be installed within the pivot pin retaining aperture 2502 is of square cross section, and is sized for a zero clearance installation within the aperture 2502. For this invention, the three rotational dampeners used to effect a slow close hinge effect for all three hingeable components (i.e., the adult toilet seat 100, the child toilet seat 700 and the child toilet seat lid 1300) are identical. A top cover 2503 having a central cylindrical aperture 2504 fits over the rotatable core 2501 and is secured to a vessel 2601 (only the key of the vessel 2601 is visible in this view) with four self-tapping screws 2505. Together, the vessel 2601 and the top cover 2503 form a case.

Referring now to FIG. 26, a rotational dampener 2500 is shown with the top cover 2503 removed from the vessel 2601. The vessel 2601 and the top cover 2503 together to form a case having a generally cylindrical inner chamber 2602 open at both ends. The inner chamber 2602 is divided into two identically sized compartments 2603A and 2603B by a pair of radial partitions 2604A and 2604B, which extend from the cylindrical wall 2605 of the inner chamber 2602. The rotatable core 2501 is has a cylindrical drive shaft 2606 that has a pair of radial vanes 2607, which extend outwardly from the drive shaft 2606 toward the cylindrical wall 2605. Each radial vane 2607 has a floating cap 2608 that is trapped between the cylindrical wall 2605 and the tip of its associated radial vane 2607. The tip of each radial vane 2607 has at least one L-shaped groove 2609 that, together with its associated floating cap 2608, forms a one-way valve. The inner chamber 2602 is filled with a viscous fluid 2610 such as silicone grease or silicone jelly. When rotated in a counterclockwise direction, each floating cap 2608 moves to provide flow of the viscous fluid through the L-shaped groove 2609 from one side of a radial vane 2607 to the other side within either compartment 2603A or 2603B. Conversely, when rotated in a clockwise direction, each floating cap 2608 moves to block its associated L-shaped groove 2609 and greatly restrict the flow of the viscous fluid from one compartment to the other. Because of the one way valving, the core turns more easily in the counterclockwise direction than in the clockwise direction. Looking at the opposite end of the rotational dampener 2500, the core turns more easily in the clockwise direction than in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, depending on the orientation of the rotational dampener 2500 when mounted on the toilet seat assembly, damping can be provided in either rotational direction. Clearly, damping is preferred for lowering of the hingeable toilet seat components.

Referring now to FIG. 27, this exploded view of a rotational dampener 2500 shows all of the components in a side view format. Two of the four self-tapping screws 2506 are shown above the top cover 2503. The top cover 2503 has a recess 2701 for the head of each screw 2506. The radial vanes 2606 extend along the entire enclosed portion 2702 of the cylindrical drive shaft 2605, as do the floating caps 2607. It will be noted that both ends of the cylindrical drive shaft 2605 are equipped with O-rings 2703A and 2703B, each of which is installed within an annular O-ring groove (not visible). The upper O-ring 2703A seals the clearance between the cylindrical aperture 2504 in the top cover 2503 and the cylindrical drive shaft 2605, while the lower O-ring 2703B seals the clearance between a cylindrical aperture 2704 in the vessel 2505 and the cylindrical drive shaft 2605. The top cover 2503 is sealed to the upper rim 2705 of the vessel 2505 with a compressible circumferential O-ring (not shown).

Referring now to FIG. 28, this exploded view shows the assembly of the slow-close hinge for the adult toilet seat 100. A left main pivot pin 2801 is inserted, first, through the square aperture 105 of left hinge pivot extension 104L, then through the square pivot pin retaining aperture 2502 of the rotational dampener 2500, then through the core access aperture 1903 of the left L-shaped seat assembly toilet bowl mounting support 1900, then into the square central aperture 710 of the left hinge pivot 709L. A right end portion 2802 of the pivot pin 2801 is cylindrical (the direction of the pivot pin 2801, of course, reverses as it follows the centerline through the components), the balance portion 2803 of the pivot pin 2801 is of square cross section, with the final portion 2804 that is anchored within the left hinge pivot extension 104L being serrated to lock it in the square aperture 105 of the left hinge extension 104L, and thus prevent lateral movement of the pivot pin 2801 during use. The diameter of the right end portion 2802 is the same measurement as the width of the four sides of the balance portion 2803.

Referring now to FIG. 29, this exploded view shows the assembly of the slow-close hinge for the child toilet seat/adult toilet seat cover 700. A right main pivot pin 2901 is inserted, first, through the cylindrical aperture 106 of right hinge pivot extension 104R, then through the square pivot pin retaining aperture 2502 of the rotational dampener 2500, then through the pivot pin insertion aperture 2203 of the right L-shaped seat assembly toilet bowl mounting support 2200, then into the square central aperture 711 of the right hinge pivot 709R. A right end portion 2902 of the pivot pin 2901 is cylindrical (the direction of the pivot pin 2901, of course, reverses as it follows the centerline through the components), a central portion 2903 of the pivot pin 2901 is of square cross section, with the final portion 2904 that is anchored within the right hinge pivot 709R also being of square cross section, but of reduced cross-sectional size as compared with central portion 2903, as well as serrated, in order to lock it in square central aperture 711 of the right hinge pivot 709R, and thus prevent lateral movement of the pivot pin 2901 during use. The diameter of the right end portion 2902 is the same measurement as a diagonal through the square cross section of the central portion 2903.

Referring now to FIG. 30, this partially-assembled, partially-exploded view shows the assembly of a preferred embodiment of the child toilet seat/adult toilet seat cover 700 and the child toilet seat lid 1300. The pivot pin 3002 is inserted, first, through the core access aperture 1903 of the rotational dampener housing 705, then through the left square pivot pin retaining aperture 2502 (not shown in this view) of the rotational dampener 2500, then through the square central aperture 1305A of the left hinge bracket 1304L, then through the square central aperture 1305B of the right hinge bracket 1304R and, finally, into the hinge pivot projection 707. The right end portion 3001 of the child toilet seat lid pivot pin 3002 is cylindrical. The middle portion 3003 of the pivot pin 3002, on the other hand, is of square cross section, with the width of each of the four sides being equal to the diameter of the right end section 3001. It will be noted that a pair of regions 3004 of the middle portion 3003 are serrated to retain the pin within the square apertures 1305A and 1305B of the left and right hinge brackets 1304L and 1304R, respectively, and thereby prevent lateral movement of the pivot pin 3002 once it is installed. The left end portion 3005 is also of square cross section, but of greater cross-sectional area than the middle portion 3003, in order to avoid damage caused, from the serrations on the middle portion 3003, to the square pivot pin retaining aperture 2502 of the rotational dampener 2500 during installation of the pivot pin 3002. This embodiment is considered a preferred embodiment because the rotational dampener housing 705 is not visible when the child toilet seat lid 1300 is raised.

Referring now to FIG. 31, this partially-assembled, partially-exploded view shows the assembly of an alternative embodiment child toilet seat/adult toilet seat cover 3101 and alternative embodiment child toilet seat lid 3102. The difference between the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 30 is that the rotational dampener housing 3103 is molded unitary with the child toilet seat lid 3102, and the core 2501 of the rotational dampener 2500 remains stationary, while the top cover 2503 and vessel 2601 of the rotational dampener 2500 rotate about a hinge pivot pin 3104. For this particular embodiment, the pivot pin 3104 is inserted, first, through a square aperture 3105 in a right hinge pivot projection 3106, then through the square pivot pin retaining aperture 2502 (not shown in this view) of a rotational dampener 2500 (which has been reversed in this case so that it appears as a mirror image of the identical rotational dampener 2500 of FIG. 30), then through a core access aperture 3107 in the rotational dampener housing 3103, then through a circular aperture 3108 in a left hinge bracket 3109 and, finally, into a square aperture 3110 in a left hinge pivot projection 3111. The left end portion 3112 of the child toilet seat lid pivot pin 3104 is of square cross section and serrated. A central portion 3113 is cylindrical, and a right end portion 3114 is of square cross section, with the final portion of that right end portion 3114 being serrated to retain the pivot pin 3104 in its installed portion and prevent the lateral movement thereof.

Although only a single embodiment of the family toilet seat and cover assembly having fluid damped slow-close hinges for all components is shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A toilet seat and cover assembly comprising: an adult toilet seat; a cover for said adult toilet seat formed of molded material and provided with an opening therein for accommodating the seating of a child thereover; a lid for said cover opening also formed of molded material, said lid being hingeably coupled to said adult toilet seat cover at a hinge axis positioned below both an upper surface of said lid and an upper surface of said cover; and a first fluid-filled rotational dampener rotatably coupled to said lid and having an axis of rotation coaxial with said hinge axis, such that said first rotational dampener providing greater resistance to rotary motion when said lid is lowered to a closed position than when it is raised to an open position.
 2. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 1, which further comprises: a second fluid-filled rotational dampener rotatably coupled to said adult toilet seat, and providing greater resistance to rotary motion when said adult toilet seat is lowered to a closed position than when it is raised to an open position; and a third fluid-filled rotational dampener rotatably coupled to said adult toilet seat cover, and providing greater resistance to rotary motion when said adult toilet seat cover is lowered to a closed position than when it is raised to an open position.
 3. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 2, wherein each of said rotational dampeners is filled with a silicon-based oil.
 4. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 2, wherein said second and third rotational dampeners are each located within one of a pair of mounting supports that anchor the toilet seat and cover assembly to a toilet bowl.
 5. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said first rotational dampener includes a case containing a rotatable core, said first rotational dampener is installed within a dampener housing molded beneath and unitary with said adult toilet seat cover, and said rotatable core is rotatably locked to a hinge pivot pin that rotates with said lid and within at least one bearing aperture in said adult toilet seat cover.
 6. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said first rotational dampener includes a case containing a rotatable core, said first rotational dampener is installed with a dampener housing molded beneath and unitary with said lid, and said rotatable core is rotatably locked to a hinge pivot pin that is non-rotatably affixed to the adult toilet seat cover so that the dampener housing and dampener case are rotatable with said lid.
 7. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said adult toilet seat cover has a recess and an adjacent cutout, said lid comprises a cover and a rear extension, said rear extension being unitary with said cover portion, said rear extension fitting within said recess and above said adjacent cutout when said lid is in a lowered position, closed, and a portion of said rear extension fitting within said adjacent cutout when said lid is in a raised position.
 8. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 7, wherein said rear extension is of generally rectangular shape.
 9. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 1, wherein said adult toilet seat, said cover for said adult toilet seat and said lid are molded of at least one polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamides, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyesters, polycarbonate, and poly(methyl methacrylate).
 10. A toilet seat and cover assembly comprising: an adult toilet seat; a cover for said adult toilet seat formed of molded material and provided with an opening therein for accommodating the seating of a child thereover; a lid for said cover opening also formed of molded material, said lid being hingeably coupled to said adult toilet seat cover at a hinge axis positioned below both an upper surface of said lid and an upper surface of said cover; and first, second and third fluid-filled rotational dampener rotatably coupled, respectively, to said lid, said adult toilet seat and said adult toilet seat cover, each rotational dampener providing to its coupled component, greater resistance to rotary motion when said component is lowered to a closed position than when it is raised to an open position.
 11. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 10, wherein said second and third rotational dampeners are each located within one of a pair of mounting supports that anchor the toilet seat and cover assembly to a toilet bowl.
 12. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 11, wherein said first rotational damper includes a case containing a rotatable core, said first rotational dampener is installed within a dampener housing molded beneath and unitary with said adult toilet seat cover, and said rotatable core is rotatably locked to a hinge pivot pin that rotates with said lid and within at least one bearing aperture in said adult toilet seat cover.
 13. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 11, wherein said first rotational dampener includes a case containing a rotatable core, said first rotational dampener is installed with a dampener housing molded beneath and unitary with said lid, and said rotatable core is rotatably locked to a hinge pivot pin that is non-rotatably affixed to the adult toilet seat cover so that the dampener housing and dampener case are rotatable with said lid.
 14. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 10, wherein said adult toilet seat cover has a recess and an adjacent cutout, said lid comprises a cover and a rear extension, said rear extension being unitary with said cover portion, said rear extension fitting within said recess and above said adjacent cutout when said lid is in a lowered position, closed, and a portion of said rear extension fitting within said adjacent cutout when said lid is in a raised position.
 15. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 14, wherein said rear extension is of generally rectangular shape.
 16. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 10, wherein said adult toilet seat, said cover for said adult toilet seat and said lid are molded of polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyamides, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyesters, polycarbonate, and poly(methyl methacrylate).
 17. The toilet seat and cover assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said rotational dampeners is filled with a silicon-based oil. 